Caramel Apple Pork Chops

I'm trying to do better at trying new recipes so the other week I went through all my recipe books/magazines and marked the recipes that I wanted to try.  This recipe is from The Costco Way 2011 magazine that comes out in November each year.  It was super easy and fast to make and used only a few ingredients that are relatively inexpensive (especially when you price match!).  I only changed a few things like I used bone-in pork chops instead of boneless because they were cheaper and I changed some of the cooking methods.

INGREDIENTS

4 pork loin chops, 3/4 inch thick

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

salt and pepper

1/4 c packed light brown sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 Granny Smith apples

4 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high.  Add pork chops to pan (may need to cook in 2 batches) and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Cook each side for about 5 minutes until evenly browned.  Remove from the pan and keep warm (in a covered pan or under foil).

Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl.  Wash and cut apples into 1/2 inch wedges (~12 slices/apple) being sure to remove the core/seeds.  When you are done cooking the pork chops melt butter in the skillet and then add the sugar mixture and apple wedges.  Stir, cover, and cook 3-4 minutes until apples are tender.  Remove the apples with a slotted spoon and place on pork chops.  Allow sugar to cook for 2 more minutes to thicken.  Mix in pecans and spoon over apples and pork chops.

Yield: 4 servings

–Melanie